It’s fair time…again

There can be no doubt about this year's Vinland Fair. It's going to be hot, hot, hot for the 98th annual version of the southern Douglas County get-together.

"I'm afraid it is. I'm afraid it is," said Mike Craig, president of the fair, about the mid-to-upper 90s temperatures forecast for the fair's three-day run. "You'll have to be young at heart to come out here this year."

The fair starts Thursday and runs through Saturday at the Vinland Fairgrounds just north of the Vinland Elementary School on Douglas County Road 460. It's one of several fairs going on around the area this week, but the uniqueness of the Vinland Fair always brings a crowd.

"Usually, we don't have them at the same time," Craig said of the other fairs. "But, we draw a little different crowd."

If different means hungry, yes, the Vinland Fair brings plenty of people out just to sample the long-standing tradition of home-made food at its finest. But, that different crowd is also treated to different entertainment, as well. There is no carnival at the Vinland Fair. There's nothing but good old-fashioned family fun.

While most of the entertainment line-up is the same this year, there is one noticeable difference and the addition of heritage efforts as the fair heads toward its 100th year in 2007.

The Floor-It Diesel Club with put on a heavy truck pull starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday preceding the annual antique tractor pull. The heavy truck pull was a part of the fair for the first time last year, but not many people saw it.

"He's going to do the trucks first this year," Craig said of the popular pulling event. "Last year, people didn't want to stay around until after midnight. They'll have them first."

A new feature this year will be an area at Vinland Elementary School. Community members are encouraged to bring photos and news clippings from past fairs to be copied from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday and Saturday in what maybe the most popular are of this year's fair -- air conditioning.

"The historical thing will be going on over at the grade school," he said.

Those who take part in that activity will have the chance to tell stories about past fairs. It's all about gathering as much information as possible about the fair for the centennial in 2007.

Amanda Helm is one of three young Vinland area residents who are working on the project. The others are Noah Hoelscher and A.J. Osborn. Helm is writing a history of the Vinland Fair for her senior project at Baldwin High School.

"It's the 100 years," said Helm. "The centennial is in 2007. I'm going to do a periodical about how it got started. I'm going to update it once the centennial is over."

She's been a fan and participant of the fair for as long as she can remember.

"Every year I've been involved in the fair since I was little," said Helm. "I've always been interested in it. I thought it would be good for people to have something to look at."

But, the fair will also be full to the brim with all the favored activities, contests, music and, of course, food. One highlight for Thursday's opener will be the Alfred Packer Memorial String Band performance at 8 p.m. That will follow another of the fair's mainstays, the talent show, at 7 p.m.

Friday's schedule (a complete schedule is included on this page) has various children's' games and other items which start at 10 a.m., with the majority around noon. The antique tractor pull and truck pull get underway at 7 p.m. The Witness Band will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Activities abound all day Saturday, including the popular box turtle race and pet parade at 11 a.m. A crowd favorite, the ice cream contest, will provide some cool down at 7 p.m. Cubby Lane and the Secrets Band closes out the fair with its 7:30 p.m. show.

As for the food, on Thursday there will be spaghetti dinners served by the Vinland Parent Teacher Organization. The favorite dinner, chicken and noodles, will be served on Friday by Vinland Fair Board members. On Saturday, community volunteers will be serving up barbecued beef and beef brisket dinners.

Throughout the three-day affair, the Vinland Fair's famous home-made fruit pies will be available.

2005 Vinland Fair

August 11, 12, 13

Food served on the grounds all three days and nights.

Schedule of Events

Thursday, Aug. 11

All day -- Build a Scarecrow Show. Antique and Special Quilt Show.

2 to 7 p.m. -- All departments open to receive entries, except livestock.

2 p.m. -- Old-time Farm Skills Contest

6 p.m. -- Talent Show -- Matt Kirby, Supervisor.

6:30 p.m. -- Rabbit Show entries must be in place. Poultry Show entries must be in place.